Proposed amendments to the act that mandates the development of the FSDS were presented by Nathalie Trudeau, Director, Information and Indicators Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

Julie Gelfand, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada, shared lessons learned from the audit on Canada’s readiness to take on the 2030 Agenda.

An overview of the development of Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy was presented by Gail Mitchell, Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Sustainable development is considered to be critical framework for protecting our planet and ensuring future generations can enjoy healthy and prosperous lives. That said, national and international strategies to advance sustainable development have been around for two decades, but have often varied in ambition and political will, and have been allocated limited financial resources to ensure results.

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Canadians can provide input to this phase of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy until May 15, 2019.

The universal adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 created a renewed interested in sustainability—in part because the SDGs provide a clear, compelling vision of a world that embraces sustainability. This ideal world would foster equality, ensure access to health care and schooling, end hunger and malnutrition, and conserve our aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, countries have been developing their SDG implementation strategies and reporting on progress to the annual High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. In 2018, Canada submitted its Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the HLPF. In this report, we learned that the Government of Canada is committed to developing a national strategy on the 2030 Agenda.

The FSDS, which has been the Government of Canada’s vehicle for sustainable development planning since 2010, is a key contribution to Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The 2016–2019 FSDS includes linkages between the FSDS and 12 of the 17 SDGs, mostly involving goals targeting environmental issues. A draft FSDS covering 2019–2022 was released for public consultation on December 3, 2018. Forum presenters emphasized that this strategy aims to strengthen linkages between the environmentally focused SDGs and the goals listed in the FSDS. The consultation will last until April 2, 2019, with the updated strategy expected to be tabled later this year.

Several amendments have been suggested to the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In 2016, the report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) recommended changes such as moving the focus from environmental to sustainability decision making, adding SDGs and international commitments, and improving the enforceability and accountability of the strategy. Bill C-57, an Act to Amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act, responds to these recommendations. One of the key issues raised during deliberations in the House of Commons and the Senate was the importance of considering crucial principles—such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the SDGs—and emphasizing the government leadership on sustainable development. Bill C-57 received royal assent February 28, 2019, and is expected to enter into force after completing the Governor in Council (GIC) process.

Had not developed a formal approach to implementing the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs

Had no communication plan and no engagement strategy on how to include other levels of government and Canadians in a national dialogue on the 2030 Agenda

Had no implementation plan or system to measure progress in achieving the goals.

In the fall of 2018, the Minister of Employment and Social Development (ESDC) was tasked to lead the overall coordination of Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda, in collaboration with all ministers and departments.

In addition, seven core departments were flagged as “champions” to support the advancement of the SDGs. These include:

ESDC

Global Affairs Canada

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Indigenous Services Canada

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Status of Women Canada

The 2018 federal budget included funding over 13 years:

CAD 49.4 million to establish an SDG Unit and fund monitoring and reporting by Statistics Canada

CAD 59.8 million for an SDG funding program to support the implementation of the SDGs in Canada

The SDG Unit at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for coordinating the overall implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This includes:

Raising public awareness of the SDGs

Engaging with provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners, civil society, businesses and academia on the development of a national strategy

Administering an SDG Funding Program that supports action.

Currently, from March 15 to May 15, 2019, Canadians can share their ideas and contribute to the development of the 2030 National Strategy.

Panelists discuss Canada's move to align development with the 2030 Agenda.

Based on information presented during the forum, it was well understood that everyone has a role to play in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Work is already underway by the government, civil society, non-governmental organizations, academia and the private sector to identify and address key priorities that can serve as a basis for Canada’s national SDG roadmap. Given the jurisdictional roles in a number of areas related to the SDGs, the provinces, territories and municipalities play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

In summary, the draft FSDS 2019–2022 provides linkages to the SDGs, and the final version will be tabled later this year. Once an amended Federal Sustainable Development Act enters into force, the focus of the FSDS will shift to sustainable development decision making, and it will have the flexibility to include more social and economic aspects and will complement a national strategy for the 2030 Agenda led by ESDC. During the discussion, the invited experts agreed that, similar to other countries, eventually one federal sustainable development strategy that includes the SDGs expressed as national priorities would be desirable, but Canada is not there yet.

IISD is grateful to all the experts for their contributions to the event.